Rory stares at her feet; she and the girls are shopping for their vacation. This is the third pair of sandals she's trying and Kate's loud groan snaps her from her thoughts, when she looks up she sees her shove an olive green tankini back onto the rack.

"They're all ugly! I'm going to look at the sunglasses; they're the only thing in this store I'm going to fit into."

Rory frowns, but before she can question her friend the curtain to the changing room behind her swishes to the side.

"What do you think?" Nat stands with her hands on her hips, looking behind her into the mirror.

"It looks good" she refers to the bikini top Nat is wearing.

"Really?" she runs her fingers underneath the tied string at the back.

"You know you look good, Nat." She rolls her eyes smiling.

When she closes the curtain Rory goes off to find Kate.

"Is something wrong?" her hand rises to gently rest on Kate shoulder.

She sighs for a while before answering. "I'm just not feeling this vacation."

"What do you mean? You have to come!"

"It's this" her hands skim down her waist and hips.

"What about it?" she asks genuinely baffled.

"My baby weight, Rory. I've barely lost anything since I had him."

"Kate, you only had Jack 5 months ago. You look beautiful nonetheless. Really!"

"Well, well, well. Girly time. Shopping. Gossiping. You know that's my thing." They turn, startled by the voice behind them.

"Andi, what are you doing here?" they both smile at him.

"What are you doing here and where is my invite?" he folds his arms across his chest.

"Andi we thought you were working" Kate defends them.

"I think I'm just going to get both." Nat says approaching them, holding two bikinis, one in each hand. She looks up ecstatic to see Andi's presence.

"Oh look, you're all here." He pouts.

"What's up with you, Mister?"

"I've just finished working on a very stressful wedding and came up here to get myself a very expensive new mascara to treat myself after working with the queen of witches for the past too many months." He takes a breath, "And what do I see though my beautifully elongated and voluminous dark lashes, my favourite gals having a merry old time without me." He flips some none-existent hair dramatically over his shoulder and pops his hip.

"Oh stop with the sass, Lass." Nat shoves him whilst rolling her eyes.

"I miss you guys."

"We've missed you too, Andi." She puts her arm around him.

"So what are you doin'?"

"Shopping for our trip."

"Trip, what trip?" he frowns.

"You're invited too Andi" Rory reassures.

"Maybe I don't want to go" he fiddles with a pair of lime green sunglasses.

"We're going to Sicily." Kate chips in too.

He stills and only his eyes move to look at her, then at the other two. "Well...it is nice this time of year. Count me in."

"Yay!" Nat's arm grips around his waist again. "Now let's go get something to eat; I'm starved."

...

"Since when do you order Salad?" Nat gawks at Kate from across the table.

She puts her fork back against the plate, "I tried one of my bikinis on from a vacation Perry and I went on a few years ago."

"I take it didn't fit?" Andi assumes.

"I got it on, only just. But it was squeezing me and I looked about ten times bigger than I actually am."

"I promise you it's all in your head. You had a baby; of course you are going to be a little softer around the sides, but it's not as devastating as you seem to believe."

"What has Perry said?"

She shrug "I haven't let him see me properly."

"You mean..." Nat squints.

Kate nods.

"Poor guy" Andi says behind his glass of water.

"I know." Kate says apologetically.

"Things will get back to normal eventually."

"So what's the plan for when were done eating?" she shrugs it off and changes the subject.

"I want to go back and get those bathing suits; I've decided."

"Okay, we will head back there first."

...

Andi has sank into one of the plush soft seats outside the changing rooms. He throws chewy sweets into his mouth whilst glancing around at the other shoppers.

"No." He states lamely, peering over the top of his new lime green glasses, when Nat reveals herself.

"What? I like this one!" she twirls.

"Honey that is a crime to fabric, take it off." he throws another jelly bear into the air.

"Are you sure?"

"Its missing a couple inches, the colour gives you an ill skin tone and it makes you look like you have back fat."

She wordlessly closes the curtain. Rory is next; she's wearing a sheath dress; black lace with a gold under dress.

He holds his hands up to shoulder level then drops them back into his lap. "What is wrong with you people? You should thank the lord I showed up."

She snaps the curtain back. "It's not that bad!" she shouts through the material.

"No its not; it does look lovely on you. But you need to keep in mind that you are going to wear this in Sicily; you will overheat and it's much too formal."

"We will be going out for dinners."

"Sweetie, do we seem that fancy?"

"Shush."

Kate comes out carrying her items.

"You didn't let me see." His eyes follow her.

"I don't like them; I'm just gonna shop when we get there."

Nat's head pops out of the dressing room, "Of course, shopping when we get there! Why didn't I think of that?"

"How could you not think of that?" Andi scoffs.

...

Logan runs down the stairs carrying numerous toys under his arms. One by one he dangles them over Regan; first the one that lights up, then the one that talks, the one that sings, the one that claps, the one that laughs, the one that rattles, but none stop her banshee screaming.

He sinks to the floor next to the bassinet in exasperation. After what feels like a lifetime Rory arrives home; she heads straight for her screaming baby. Logan doesn't notice her until she waves her hand in front of his face, snapping him from his trance.

He stands up wobbly, the woven print of the basket sunk into his temple.

"I tried everything."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing."

"Did you try picking her up?"

"Of course I did, I did everything I could think of but she wasn't having any of it."

After another ten minutes of Rory pacing the living room rocking her, Regan finally quietens down into a peaceful sleep.

"Thank god." Logan whispers while rubbing his eyes.

"She's exhausted herself." Rory enters the kitchen to follow her husband.

"What do you want to eat?" he takes a painkiller.

"I think tonight definitely calls for take-out."

He nods "I'll go get a pizza."

...

When he arrives home he mindlessly shouts to announce his arrival. They both flinch immediately; waiting for the sound of her cry again, but when the silence ensues they relax.

"Where is she?" he hangs his coat up.

"I moved her upstairs for the night."

He places the box on the coffee table next to the drinks she has prepared and sits beside his wife.

"Looks like you've had a tough day." She passes him his beer and rubs his thigh.

"Babies are tough." He sighs, eagerly awaiting the golden liquid to touch his lips.

"She was just having a bad day." Opening the box she passes him a slice, and then gets one for herself.

"I've never looked after her by myself for so long."

"I think you did quite well considering."

"How was shopping?"

"Good; I picked up a few things, bathing suits and such."

"Ooh, can I see?" he grins.

"No." She playfully hits him. "You'll have to wait and see."

"It will be worth it."

Thinking back to earlier in the day her mind replays the conversation concerning Kate. Out the corner of his eye he notices her uncomfortably picking at her slice of pizza. Taking another swig from his bottle he examines her further then turns his head to her.

"What's got you?" he frowns.

She jumps slightly, then shakes her head slowly, "I'm fine." She smiles.

"You sure?" he guzzles another mouthful.

"Yeah" leaning for the remote she turns the volume up then rests back into the crook he makes when he puts his arm over the back of the sofa.

...

A few days later Rory sits next to the cubicle that Andi stands in nearly naked pre-tanning for their trip. She reads an article to him from a gossip magazine to keep him amused.

"I'm glad they broke up; he deserves better, some might say me even." He narrates as she goes along.

"Keep on dreaming, Andi."

"Oh, I will."

"Can I talk to you about something? I'd bring it up with the girls but I know what they will say and I need someone with more of a harsher tongue."

"Talk away."

"You remember when we were shopping and Kate was on about her baby weight?"

"Ah, I thought you were being particularly quiet during that conversation."

"It got me thinking, and I'm still carrying some extra Regan on me." Subconsciously she places an arm over her stomach.

"Was it bothering you before?"

"No"

"Then why now?"

"I never thought about it, I didn't have time. But I'm going to be in a bikini...on a beach...with people."

"Honey, you know you aren't going to see those people again; you shouldn't care what they think anyway."

"I know, it's not really them, more so Logan."

Emerging from the cubicle, he removes the goggles, "He's seen you before though."

"Not lately." She hands him a bottle of water.

He frowns thinking about her words while drinking. "You mean since the baby was born?" he's slightly out of breath.

She nods, "Yup."

"Is it really that big of deal for you women? These men love you."

"The thought has only just occurred to me; we have both been so busy these last few months, and stressed."

"Stands a good chance he is going to want to get all romantic overseas; no baby, no stress, and no doubt he's missing it."

"Exactly."

"I mean this in all honesty..."

"Okay." She braces herself.

He puts his hands on her shoulders and leans in, "I bet he won't even notice."He opens the door, "He is a man after all."

...

Settled for the evening, Rory reads a book relaxing back on the bed. Logan comes in and crawls onto the bed beside her.

"I messed up."

There's a pause while she continues reading the sentence. "What?"

"The plane tickets; I got the dates mixed up."

"We are going to be there to same time as the guys, right?"

"Yeah, the Sicily tickets are fine. The tickets to take Regan home to your Mother are a few days later."

"A few days! But we were only going to spend a few days there."

"I know I'm sorry. We can spend time there when we go back to pick her up though."

She huffs, resting back into the bed frame, "Okay."

...

"I'm glad you liked it." She smiles down the phone.

"Oh, you knew I would." Helen smiles down her phone too. "So onto the next stage it is. Right I'll let you go, I know you're probably very busy. I'll get you in when you get back so we can discuss things."

There is a knock at the front door.

"Okay, thank you, Helen."

"My pleasure, Rory." She hangs up and opens the door.

"Andi, you look rather flamboyant today."

"Why thank you! Come on, I've got the girls in the car; we're going for impromptu mani-pedis."

"But I've got the baby and Logan isn't home."

"Bring her with!"

"Hmmm, alright."

...

"I've had to buy another suitcase; I even resorted to Tate sitting on the last one, holding the dog for extra weight, but it refused to close." Nat speaks, her head turned as far as it can, to the guys behind her from the manicure table.

"Even I'm not taking that much." Andi bounces Regan on his lap while the woman works on his feet.

"But it's quite clever if you think about it; the extra room I have in this case will give me space for the things I'm going to buy over there."

"I have room still." Rory chips in from her manicure table.

"Me too." Kate's chair is next to Andi's.

She thinks, "It's probably because you have babies." Then shrugs.

"Hey don't blame our children."

"Andi, do you have any space in your suitcase?" she eyes him.

"Well... I'm probably going to have to buy something to bring all the extras back now you mention it."

"See. You just don't think about yourselves anymore. When is the last time you went shopping? Besides the other day that is." They look at each other but remain silent. "This vacation is going to do you good, you pair need a baby break."

"You know the best part of this vacation?" his tone happily smug.

"What?" they all say.

"Anyone I'd care to think of while over there is going to be with me already; so I won't have to get souvenirs."

Kate rolls her eyes and Nat chuckles.

"What about John?" Rory asks teasingly.

"Like I said; anyone Id care to think about will be with me already."

All six eyes snap back to him immediately.

"You invited him?!"

"You're vacationing together?"

"Sounds like something a couple would do."

"Yes, yes and no; I'm going with you guys and we aren't dating are we."

"Aww, how romantic." Nat gushes.

"We aren't a couple, there is no romance."

"Well if there were any place to create romance..."

"Shush all of you; you're boring Regan." They look to the baby holding a plastic rattle toy in her mouth.

"She's a girl, Andi."

"Yeah she loves the gossip."

They rotate positions, Andi passes the baby to Rory and she holds her while she has her feet done.

"So he is just up and leaving to go across the world for you?"

"I'm paying for his ticket."

"Want him to come that badly?"

"Obviously I enjoy his company. And Logan is his boss remember, so it's not like work is an issue."

"I think that's nice of you Andi." Kate says kindly.

"Thank you."

"This is the most fantastic I've felt in months." Rory's head drops back against the seat.

"Just wait until you are in the sunshine."

"I don't think I can wait. How long until we leave?"

"Thirty one hours and..." he looks at his watch, "forty...seven minutes."

...

Andi holds the door for the girls as they leave.

"Andi" Rory stares agape holding her daughters hand.

"Yes?" he knocks his sunglasses onto his head, even though it's not a particularly sunny day.

"Did you paint my child's fingernails neon pink?"

He stalls for a moment, "Well I suppose there is no point in denying it is there. She is pulling it off fabulously though, don't you agree?"

"You're lucky I love you." She laughs.

"I'll see you later." He heads towards the car and gets in.

"Bye."

"I guess I'll be next seeing you guys in Sicily. Your plane from here and ours from the east coast both land at pretty much the same time so I'll see you guys at the airport, yeah?"

"That's the plan." They hug and the girls get into Andi's car before he becomes inpatient.

...

"Give her to me. Give her to me!" Lorelai takes Regan from Logan's arms.

"I see you have a new favourite girl." Rory says to her mother, who is too lost in a hug with her Granddaughter to hear her so instead she mumbles it to Logan. He puts his arm around her back.

"I'm sorry we can't stay for longer." Over the volume of everyone else's conversations in the airport his voice doesn't travel.

"Mom!" Rory snaps her from the baby gaze.

"Sorry."

"We have to go" She checks her watch.

"Right, don't worry about us. We can see you properly when you come back anyway, no worries."

"Are you sure you are going to be okay?"

"Yeah, it's not my first time with a baby. You went through everything on the phone last night and we have everything we need at the house; your baby will be fine. I'll see you next week, have fun." She hugs her.

Logan hands over Regan's bag and gives her a kiss on the head. Rory's kiss lingers a while and when she finally pulls away she goes back in for another quick one.

"Rory" he says as if to warn.

"Okay, okay." They back away and when she looks back, both her mother and Regan, with the help of Lorelai, are waving.

...

On the plane Rory nervously twiddles her thumbs.

"What's up with you? You've left Regan before."

"I know but not for this long and she's never been so far away. What is something happens, we're hours away."

"Are you going to be like this for the entire vacation?" he sharply flicks the page of his magazine over and she realises his annoyance.

"There will be plenty of distractions when we're there; relaxing distractions." He continues to read, not answering her. She places her hand over his, "I'm sorry."

He looks to her and a smiles shows on his face, "Promise me you are going to relax."

"I promise."

"Good, because how are we going to be judgemental little old people together if you die of stress in your forties."

"I think you need to take your own advice there; you've gained two wrinkles over the course of that law suit."

He frowns "What?"

Her pointed hand rises to his face and he bats it away.

She continues to stare at him, "I think I just spotted a third."

He ignores her and goes back to his magazine. After a few seconds he swipes his fingertips slowly across his forehead and laughs, "Seriously?" he stresses.

She picks up a peanut and he flinches when it hits him above his eyebrow. "Relax" her tone is calm.

"What?" he still frowns.

She repeats, the peanut hitting I'm on his hairline, "Relax."

"Touché" he flinches in reflex when she moves to throw another, but she only teases and holds onto it. He goes back to his magazine and she her book. A minute later when he feels at the corner of his eyes another peanut hits the back of his hand. "Relax" her tone unchanging.

"Rory" he whines.

...

Rory and Logan walk towards the wall of people that swarm the main part of the airport.

"There they are! There they are!"

Rory turns to Nat's voice, she points towards her, "They're over there."

Logan looks up, "Where?"

Nat puts all her effort into a jump and her head rises above the crowd again. She keeps her hand in the air frantically waving. They head in the direction of her blurred palm. He sets his luggage case down then kicks it towards the pile of the others' cases. Rory gently parks hers upright then rubs her palm, red from the weight of her baggage.

Her eyes travel over the scene of the group, taking each of her friends: Nat embracing Logan in a welcome squeeze, Andi observing and poking at his face while looking in his compact mirror, Perry fast asleep, Tate completely engrossed in a young couple arguing a few feet away, John reading a novel and lastly Kate approaching her with a smile.

"How was your flight?" she wraps her arms around Rory.

"It was good, yours?"

She rolls her eyes and sighs while shaking her head slightly. "I'll tell you later."

Looking back to Perry, "Have you been waiting long?" she frowns not wanting to have kept them waiting.

"No, no." She waves her hand to dismiss the sight of her sleeping husband. "We were late arriving anyway so it's only been about fifty minutes, give or take."

The click of Andi's mirror signals his arrival back to the real world and away from his own face. Upon seeing Rory he smiles and pushes the cover of John's book shut, who then visibly snaps from his imaginary world.

"I've had enough of airports and planes, lets go!" he grabs his case and shouts into the crowd as he moves forward, "Coming though, move it."

"Cute isn't he." John beams picking his own case from the pile.

"Come on, before we lose him." Kate shuffles into mother mode.

"Tate...TATE!" Tate jumps into Nat's attention wide-eyed. "Were leaving, look alive."

Logan follows Nat into the walkway created by Andi, shortly followed by Rory.

Twisting in his seat Tate slaps Perry's face and he awakes with a choke-like snort.

"Come on, dude."

They take the remaining luggage, Perry pulling his blue case as well as Kate's glittery pink one.

Outside everyone is gathered near the kerb next to where a large minibus is parked. Kate speaks to the driver with the help of a little book. With a nod the driver smacks the side of the bus and throws his cigarette onto the pavement.

"Quickly, into the van, he'll take us to the hotel." She ushers everyone with flailing hands.

John has the back doors open and he and Perry are soon throwing all the cases into the back.

Everyone else waits in the seats for them to be done. Andi spontaneously bursts into an excited applause. "I'm so excited!" he squeaks.

"I'm going to get so drunk." Tate says nonchalantly, cuing a slap on the bicep from Nat. He smiles, melting into him she rests her head on his shoulder and he puts a kiss in her fringe.

Rory turns and looks at Andi through the gap in the seats. "You and John seem very cutesy."

He winks and smiles smugly out the window.

"You best update us!" Kate speaks from her seat the other side of the aisle.

"Since when am I one to gossip girls?" he playfully raises an eyebrow.

Perry and John climb into the van and take their seats. Rory points to him in mock warning then turns back around and takes Logans hand. The engine rumbles to a start and everyone perks up a little with excitement.

A/N: Just wanted to say I'm sorry for taking so long; I've not long started a new job and it's distracted me from doing much writing. Again, so sorry!